Posted By Troy E. Renck On August 16, 2013 @ 4:06 pm In 2007 World Series,Colorado Rockies Links,Former Rockies,General Rockies,National League West,Pitcher,Rockies on Deck,World Series | No Comments

Todd Helton has no reason to be guarded at this point. With his career coming to a close, he freely expresses his opinion. An d when it comes to the use of expanded replay, he’s for it. Players want to see the call right. That’s what Roy Oswalt said. What Michael Cuddyer said. What every veteran I talked to in the Rockies’ clubhouse indicated on Friday.

The issue is the mechanics. Will it delay the flow of the game. Will somebody try to game the system with a frivolous challenge to warm up or stall a pitcher? Will it take too long? As long as the reviews are kept to the 1 minute, 15-second mark — or in that range — players are for it.

Manager Walt Weiss said there will definitely be wrinkles to iron out. When should a manager challenge? Will he have help from the video guy signaling to someone in the stairs leading down to the dugout? Weiss said he would like to see the calls get correct. He also cautioned that not all calls are conclusive.

When the story on expanded replay broke on Thursday, it was mentioned that Matt Holliday’s slide to win the play-in game in 2007 could have been overturned. But it’s not clear whether that would have been a reviewable play. The catcher never picked up the ball and tagged Holliday. So even if it was determined that Holliday never touched the plate, he wasn’t tagged out. The ball was dropped. Anyway, there will be glitches, clearly.

“But we just want the calls to be right,” Oswalt said. “I don’t need the human element there. In 20 years, there might not even be a human element at all.”

One thing Helton doesn’t want is the elimination of on-field arguments. He’s had the best seat for 17 years as coaches and managers debate with umpires.